OBJECTIVES: About 25,000 serious methamphetamine abusers live in the Czech Republic among the total population of 10 million. Dependence on methamphetamine is markedly related to the brain neurotransmitter dopamine, metabolised by catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme. The main aim of the study was to ascertain whether the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism is associated with methamphetamine dependence in this Central European country. Methods: One hundred and twenty-three subjects dependent on methamphetamine (women N=44), parents of sixty-seven dependent individuals, and four hundred healthy controls (women N=250) were involved into the study. We performed a population-based as well as family-based genetic association studies. Results: We did not find any significant association between the Val158Met catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism and methamphetamine dependence using the population-based or family-based design (p=0.41-0.66; Chi-Square Test or UNPHASED program, Version 3.1.4, respectively). We found a trend toward a statistically significant difference between the Val allele carriers and Met/Met homozygotes in the frequence of psychotic symptoms induced by methamphetamine (more frequent in Val carriers; p=0.062; Chi-Square Test). Conclusion: Further research involving haplotype analysis and other dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms in large populations is needed. More attention should also be paid to possible role of the Val158Met catechol-O-methyl-transferase gene polymorphism in individual clinical subtypes of dependence on methamphetamine involving e.g. psychotic features or violence.

• MeSH
• Point Mutation MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Gene Frequency MeSH
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease genetics   MeSH
• Haplotypes MeSH
• Catechol O-Methyltransferase genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Methamphetamine adverse effects   MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic MeSH
• Amphetamine-Related Disorders genetics   MeSH
• Psychotic Disorders genetics   MeSH
• Central Nervous System Stimulants adverse effects   MeSH
• Family Health MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic MeSH
• Amphetamine-Related Disorders genetics   MeSH
• Substance-Related Disorders genetics   MeSH
• Renin-Angiotensin System MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Comparative Study MeSH

• MeSH
• Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A genetics   MeSH
• Angiotensinogen genetics   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease * MeSH
• Genetic Association Studies statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Genotype MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Polymorphism, Genetic * genetics   MeSH
• Amphetamine-Related Disorders * genetics   MeSH
• Receptors, Dopamine D2 genetics   MeSH
• Sex Factors MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH